SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Derrick Henry, Alabama’s Heisman Trophy-winning running back, will be on one sideline and Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, the second runner-up for the sport’s most prestigious award, will be on the other.

There is Alabama’s front seven, one of the most dominant groups in recent memory, a run-stuffing unit that led the nation in sacks. And Clemson cornerback Mackensie Alexander is considered a future Sunday star.

Naturally, it will be easy to forget about Cyrus Jones, the Crimson Tide’s 5-foot-10 defensive back/return specialist. But overlooking the senior would be to ignore one of the X factors in Monday’s College Football Playoff championship game.

A three-year starter, Jones wouldn’t have it any other way. Because of his size (he’s the smallest player on Alabama’s third-ranked defense), he often is overlooked.

“He uses that to his advantage,” fellow defensive back Maurice Smith said this week. “They look at him like, ‘OK, I’m going to throw on him,’ and then he turns around and gets a pick. Then that side of the field is shut down the rest of the game.”

Like his motor, Jones’ mouth rarely stops.

Offensive lineman Alphonse Taylor, one of his good friends, said he has “Little Man Syndrome.” Jones, a Baltimore native, called out the Auburn receivers before the Iron Bowl, saying they were “nothing special.” When Ohio State wide receiver Michael Thomas tweeted about Alabama’s supposedly soft schedule prior to the SEC title game, Jones said the tweet was “delusional” and asked someone to “record the OSU game for me this weekend,” when he knew the Buckeyes hadn’t reached the Big Ten championship.

In August, after Jones’ name was omitted from preseason watch lists for national awards, he said: “I guarantee people are going to respect me by the end of this year if they don’t already.”

Just ask Michigan State. Jones wrecked the Spartans’ chances in the Cotton Bowl, coming up with a mammoth interception late in the first half to snuff out a potential touchdown. He also added a 57-yard punt return for a touchdown — his fourth such score of the season, more than any other player in the country and an Alabama record — in the second half that turned the game into a rout. He was named the Cotton Bowl’s Defensive Player of the Game.

“It was something I grew up doing,” he said of the punt returns. “My favorite player growing up was Tavon Austin, a guy I grew up watching from Baltimore, just really explosive with the ball. He had moves similar. And I kind of patented my game after him growing up. And that was moves I get from him. So you can credit him with those.”

Jones has come a long way in the last few years, from a weak link as a converted wide receiver in the Alabama secondary as a sophomore to its lockdown corner and special-teams playmaker. Despite playing with a hip injury last year that required surgery, he still notched 46 tackles, three interceptions and a team-leading 13 passes defensed.

Alabama coach Nick Saban said it took him a year to grasp his new position, but because of his work ethic and attention to detail, the process was sped up. And Jones said he developed confidence by the faith Saban and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart showed in him, as he battled growing pains along the way.

“It’s all credit to the people around me, the results I’m getting right now,” Jones said.